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The Prince of Wales Tower National Historic Site, located in Point Pleasant Park (Tower Road entrance) in Halifax was built in 1796-97 by order of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent which later came to be called the Martello Tower. The first tower of its type in North America, this thick-walled round structure was intended to protect British sea batteries from a French landward attack. The tower served as part of Halifax’s coastal defence network. Today, interpretive panels portray the tower’s history, architectural features and significance as a defensive structure. Visitors are welcome to explore the tower and learn about its long history. In 1866, the military offered Point Pleasant Park to the City of Halifax on a 999-year lease for an annual rent of one shilling. The park is now used for a variety of recreational activity offering lots of walking trails for visitors. Free admission.